After two weeks of non-stop football that has culminated in some of the best drama we've seen at such an early stage at the World Cup, the group stages have come to the end.
We've witnessed some big teams flounder, some legendary names say their final farewells and some of the biggest ever upsets at a World Cup tournament. While the final round of group games have had fans on the edge of the seats.
Sportsmail counts down 10 things we have learnt from the group stages of World Cup 2022.
VAR must improve
The use of video technology can be hugely controversial in domestic football but during the last World Cup and at Euro 2020, the system seemed to work well. It is disheartening, then, that VAR has caused such debate in this tournament. Instead of intervening only when there is a clear mistake, the VAR team appear determined to meddle in every incident.
The result? Luka Modric lining up to take a penalty that never happened, or Antoine Griezmann seeing a goal chalked off after the final whistle, or a goal given to Japan when nobody could have been entirely sure whether the ball was still in play. Let us hope those in the control room relax a little in the knockout stages.
Subs change games
From Davy Klaassen for Holland against Senegal on the second day of the tournament, to Enzo Fernandez for Argentina against Mexico, to Alvaro Morata and Niclas Fullkrug in Spain’s 1-1 draw with Germany, substitutes have played a huge role in the opening phase.
With managers able to change up to half of their outfield players, every member of the squad can hope to play a role for his side. Expect more of this when the serious action begins on Saturday.
The favourites are playing a dangerous game
You would have got decent odds on Tunisia, Japan or South Korea winning their final group game, but the odds on all three doing so? That seemed unthinkable after the first two matches.
While their wins over France, Spain and Portugal respectively were fabulous underdog stories, none of the three favourites seemed to be going at anywhere close to full pelt in those fixtures. Only time will tell whether this lost momentum will cost them, when they try to pick it up again in the last 16.
Dreadful Qatar
Surely the weakest host nation in the history of the World Cup, Qatar were awful from day one. Dreadful against Ecuador, desperate against Senegal and dire against the Dutch, Qatar were an embarrassment on the pitch, with their players miles short of the required standard.
Any tournament is enhanced if the hosts perform well and the USA, Canada and Mexico will surely produce better in four years’ time.
Young stars shining bright
Top-level football is increasingly a youngster’s game. While stars the wrong side of 30 like Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Suarez and Gareth Bale have toiled, those in their teens and early-twenties have sparkled.
The pre-tournament profile of Jamal Musiala, Jude Bellingham, Pedri and Gavi means they have captured most of the attention but Mohammed Kudus, Yunus Musah, Cody Gakpo and Enzo Fernandez have been just as impressive. All four look potential future stars for the top Champions League clubs and Gakpo has already caught the eye of Manchester United and other European giants.
Painful end of an era for Belgium
It had to happen at some time, but it was still a shame to see one of the best groups of players of the modern era depart the scene without a trophy to their name. Belgium’s big chances were four years ago and at Euro 2020, and it would have been a huge surprise had they prevailed here.
To see them exit at the group stage was painful, however. The consolation is that the fabulous Kevin de Bruyne should be around for at least two more tournaments and Belgium have an exciting new crop, led by Amadou Onana, Romeo Lavia and Zeno Debast. Perhaps they will succeed where their predecessors fell short.
Fair play rule isn't fair
While there has to be a way to separate teams who are level on points, goal difference and goals scored, the sight of Poland almost progressing ahead of Mexico because they had fewer bookings just did not feel right.
In the end, Saudi Arabia scored a late goal against Mexico to spare FIFA's blushes, but it was dangerously close to being a ludicrous way for a team to exit a World Cup. BBC pundit Danny Murphy suggested counting the shots on target as an alternative solution.
For this tournament alone, it would probably have been fairer to send the team through who had suffered more contentious VAR calls in the group phase. Every country would have its own hard luck story there.
Southgate’s tough road to glory
A comfortable draw at the last World Cup, followed by six of seven games at Wembley during Euro 2020, no major injuries at either, and now facing Senegal when they are without injured Sadio Mane and suspended Idrissa Gueye.
Gareth Southgate has excelled at tournaments as England manager, but how Sven-Goran Eriksson, Fabio Capello and Roy Hodgson must wish they had enjoyed the rub of the green as much as he has.
This time, though, England will have to do it the hard way. If they beat Senegal, their path to the trophy could read like this: France, Spain, Brazil. If his team come through all of those tests, Southgate should be named above Sir Alf Ramsey as the greatest England boss of all time.
Clamping down on time-wasting
Time-wasting has become pointless at this World Cup, because the officials will account for every lost second. That is why stoppage time running into double figures has become a regular sight at the tournament.
It will be fascinating to see whether it is adopted when domestic football returns across the globe later this month. On balance, it feels like a good idea. While 13 minutes’ added time when the score is 4-0 seems a little excessive, any measure to keep the ball in play for longer is surely positive.
Marvellous Mbappe
In recent months, Kylian Mbappe has made the news for off-field events as much as he has on the pitch. First there was the Real Madrid move that never was, then the eye-watering new contract at Paris Saint-Germain, the remarkable terms of the deal and then, despite all that, reports he was unhappy and could leave his club after all.
In Qatar, though, Mbappe has shown again why many believe he is worth the fuss. The forward has been peerless in the opening phase and if he maintains this form, France will take some stopping.
